Published: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 2:39 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 11:48 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A Speedweeks packed with storylines, records, suspense, shattered sheet metal, new-fangled cars, intrigue, triumph, anger -- even a large dose of amore -- will come to a dramatic conclusion Sunday with the 55th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

The 200-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series opener over Daytona's super-fast 2.5-mile tri-oval, will go green at 1:10 p.m. -- weather permitting because there's a 50 percent chance of rain -- and complete an exciting and seminal moment in the 64-year history of the marquee series.

Danica Patrick, 30, became the first female driver to snag a Cup Series pole position and earned the right to lead the 43-car field to the green flag in the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, a machine prepped by Spruce Creek graduate Tony Gibson.

Patrick has been a headline machine since the Speedway opened for stock-car competition, featuring the Generation-6 racers, which replaced the much disliked “Car of Tomorrow” design.

Only days before Speedweeks began, Patrick let it be known she was dating fellow Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Adding to the plot is the fact both are competing for Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors.

Sunday, it's all about competition. Patrick has only 10 Cup Series starts in her racing career.

“I can understand that there will be more hope out there, and there will be a lot of people that will be excited, and anxious to see what happens,” Patrick said. “But, I put plenty of pressure on myself, and I want to go out there, and I want to win the race, and I want to run strong all day.

“I want to do all those things for myself. I don't think that anyone can make me feel it anymore.”

Kevin Harvick, who drives the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, has dominated the action on the track to this point. He won last weekend's Sprint Unlimited At Daytona then nabbed the first half of the Budweiser Duel on Thursday.

Despite a so-so performance in time trials, Harvick's Duel win puts him third on Sunday's grid behind Patrick. Ironically, they will be 2014 teammates at Stewart-Haas Racing. This is Harvick's last season with Childress and he has thrived in the “lame duck” conversation.

“We've been fortunate to win the first two races of Speedweeks,” Harvick said. “We just got to keep a level head on our shoulders, not get too high over what we've done, just do the same things that we've done.

“If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. I think we definitely have the car and team to be in contention to do that.”

Jeff Gordon – the fastest MAN in the 500 field -- will start on the front row with Patrick in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. His crew chief is Seabreeze grad Alan Gustafson. Although Patrick won the pole, she has chosen to start on the outside and Gordon will start on the inside position.

“I think we are in the best position to win the race,” Gordon said. “Everybody has sort of been under the radar other than maybe Harvick winning two races. Obviously, Danica brings a lot of attention and that is fantastic for our sport.”

The “Gen-6” stock cars, featuring manufacturer stamped sheet metal, are faster than the older COT design. The G6 more resembles the automobiles they represent at Chevrolet (SS), Ford (Fusion) and Toyota (Camry). The SS won't be in showrooms until the fall, but will make its Cup Series racing debut Sunday.

The National Weather Service forecasts a warm day with a 50 percent chance of rain showers, which means spectators could see NASCAR's new Air Titan, designed to dry Daytona within 30 minutes.

Some wonder if the Daytona 500's “weird streak” will continue Sunday. In 2010 a pothole developed between Turns 1 and 2; 2011 saw the odd-looking tandem racing and 20-year-old winner Trevor Bayne; and last year the race, postponed a day because of rain, was dubbed the “Fireball 500” after Juan Pablo Montoya smacked into a jet dryer in Turn 3.

<p><b>DAYTONA BEACH --</b> A Speedweeks packed with storylines, records, suspense, shattered sheet metal, new-fangled cars, intrigue, triumph, anger -- even a large dose of amore -- will come to a dramatic conclusion Sunday with the 55th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.<ep></p><p>The 200-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series opener over Daytona's super-fast 2.5-mile tri-oval, will go green at 1:10 p.m. -- weather permitting because there's a 50 percent chance of rain -- and complete an exciting and seminal moment in the 64-year history of the marquee series.<ep></p><p>Danica Patrick, 30, became the first female driver to snag a Cup Series pole position and earned the right to lead the 43-car field to the green flag in the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, a machine prepped by Spruce Creek graduate Tony Gibson.<ep></p><p>Patrick has been a headline machine since the Speedway opened for stock-car competition, featuring the Generation-6 racers, which replaced the much disliked “Car of Tomorrow” design.<ep></p><p>Only days before Speedweeks began, Patrick let it be known she was dating fellow Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Adding to the plot is the fact both are competing for Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors.<ep></p><p>Sunday, it's all about competition. Patrick has only 10 Cup Series starts in her racing career.<ep></p><p>“I can understand that there will be more hope out there, and there will be a lot of people that will be excited, and anxious to see what happens,” Patrick said. “But, I put plenty of pressure on myself, and I want to go out there, and I want to win the race, and I want to run strong all day.<ep></p><p>“I want to do all those things for myself. I don't think that anyone can make me feel it anymore.”<ep></p><p>Kevin Harvick, who drives the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, has dominated the action on the track to this point. He won last weekend's Sprint Unlimited At Daytona then nabbed the first half of the Budweiser Duel on Thursday.<ep></p><p>Despite a so-so performance in time trials, Harvick's Duel win puts him third on Sunday's grid behind Patrick. Ironically, they will be 2014 teammates at Stewart-Haas Racing. This is Harvick's last season with Childress and he has thrived in the “lame duck” conversation.<ep></p><p>“We've been fortunate to win the first two races of Speedweeks,” Harvick said. “We just got to keep a level head on our shoulders, not get too high over what we've done, just do the same things that we've done.<ep></p><p>“If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. I think we definitely have the car and team to be in contention to do that.”<ep></p><p>Jeff Gordon – the fastest MAN in the 500 field -- will start on the front row with Patrick in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. His crew chief is Seabreeze grad Alan Gustafson. Although Patrick won the pole, she has chosen to start on the outside and Gordon will start on the inside position.<ep></p><p>“I think we are in the best position to win the race,” Gordon said. “Everybody has sort of been under the radar other than maybe Harvick winning two races. Obviously, Danica brings a lot of attention and that is fantastic for our sport.”<ep></p><p>Qualifying race winners Harvick and Kyle Busch occupy Row 2 followed by Greg Biffle, No. 16 Ford, and Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Chevy.<ep></p><p>The “Gen-6” stock cars, featuring manufacturer stamped sheet metal, are faster than the older COT design. The G6 more resembles the automobiles they represent at Chevrolet (SS), Ford (Fusion) and Toyota (Camry). The SS won't be in showrooms until the fall, but will make its Cup Series racing debut Sunday.<ep></p><p>The National Weather Service forecasts a warm day with a 50 percent chance of rain showers, which means spectators could see NASCAR's new Air Titan, designed to dry Daytona within 30 minutes.<ep></p><p>Some wonder if the Daytona 500's “weird streak” will continue Sunday. In 2010 a pothole developed between Turns 1 and 2; 2011 saw the odd-looking tandem racing and 20-year-old winner Trevor Bayne; and last year the race, postponed a day because of rain, was dubbed the “Fireball 500” after Juan Pablo Montoya smacked into a jet dryer in Turn 3.<ep></p>